Loom clamp for wall boxes



April 1929- c. A. BLACK ET AL I 1,708,827

LOOM CLAMP FOR WALL BOXES Filed April 4, 1927 1 VENTORJ 4,4 W

' ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 9, 1929.

CHARLES A. BLACK AND WILFRED S. THIBAUL'I, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

LOOM CLAMP FOR WALL BOXES.

Application filed April 4,

The invention relates to improvements in wall or terminal switch boxes, and the particular objects are to provide automatically acting clamps for securing the insulating conduits or looms when inserted in the openings in the walls of the box, thus greatly facilitating the assembly of the parts and making attachment of the conduits instantaneous and adjustable without the use of clamping screws or loss of time.

The device comprises an elongated plate pivoted at one longitudinal edge in the opposite walls of said box, and preferably provided with crescent shaped openings in the other edge for the reception of the looms. Also the swinging plate is constructed of sheet metal and is finally secured by pushing its lateral edges over and past detents integral bosses upon the inner surfaces of the walls, which prevent the plate from swinging backward after final adjustment of the loom or looms therein. The plate being made of thin metal will permit the ends to be sprung behind the bosses in this manner.

The looms are enclosed in a thick yielding insulation, with which the edge of the plate engages and holds them securely in adjusted position.

The invention is hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawin s and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a vertical. longitudinal section of a wall box, having one detachable side removed showing the clamping plates in position. Figure 2 is a transverse section thereof. Fig. 3 is a perspective of one of the plates and Figure t is a perspective of a modified form of plate.

In these views A and B are the side and end walls of the box respectively. C, C, are the openings in the end walls through which the looms are inserted, D, D, are insulating looms, by means of which the lighting or power wires are protected where they enter the switch box, and E, E, are the elongated clamping plates formed of spring sheet metal and provided with journals F, F, extending longitudinally from the lower edge thereof, which extend into openings G, G, in the side walls.

The upper edge G in Fig. 3 and G in Fig. l of the pivoted plate lies across the openings C in the walls and when engaged with the insulating loom will hold it and prevent its removal from the opening, and

1927. Serial No. 180,692.

crescent shaped openings H, H, may be formed therein to receive the lower edges of the looms as they are passed through the openings C, C.

It will be observed that whereas the plates will swing back freely to permit the ends of the looms to be inserted into the box, the crescent shaped edges will engage with and prevent the escape of the looms outwardly from the box, but when the looms have been properly adjusted, the ends of the clamping plates are pressed towarc'ls the end walls, and over and behind the bosses J, J, pref erably integrally punched in the side plates, and hence will be firmly locked in position so they cannot be pushed in or loosened from their fastenings or drawn out of the box.

In this manner short cireuiting is pre' vented and good lire protection is afforded.

In Figure 4, a narrower plate E is employed and its edge may be provided with i any desired engaging means such as an angular projection G We do not limit ourselves to any particular type of engaging edge, but believe ourselves to be the first to produce a device within the scope of the claims.

Having described the invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a terminal box, provided .with an opening for the introduction of an electric insulating conduit through its wall, a securing member pivoted at its lower edge in the opposite walls of said box over said opening, the upper edge of said member being ongagea-ble with said conduit and locking means for the ends of said securing member, integral with said opposite walls.

2. The combination with a terminal box having an opening in its wall for the introduetion of an electric conduit, of a spring plate pivoted at oneof its edges on the side walls of said box, and having its opposite edge extending over said opening and elevations upon the inner surfaces of said side walls, over which the extremities of said plate are pressed to lock said plate and con duit in position.

3. In a terminal box having its end wall provided with an opening for the introduction of an electric insulated conduit therethrough, an elongated securing member therefor, comprising a metal plate pivoted at one longitudinal edge in the side walls of said box over said opening, and locking bosses "integral with the sidewalls of said 7 box, engageable with the ends'of said securing member when closed upon said conduit. .4, Ina terminal box having its end wall providedgwithi an; opening for the introduc tion of van electric insulated conduit therethrough an elongated securing member theretor, comprising a, metal plate pivoted bosses integral with the side walls of said box, engageable with the ends of mid scouring member when closed upon said conduit,

said securing member being made of spring material ermitting said ends to be snapped over said osses.

In testimony whereof we afiix our slgnatures.

CHARLES A. BIlACK.

WILFRED S. THIBAULT. 

